Looks like a winner, now to hope the non-deluxe comes out soon, because that's definitely my pick.I like the fact this board actually supplies proper cpu voltage and has good bios functionality. Unless Zotac improves their bios and the weird board quirks such as voltage, they're always going to be a second tier maker.

Why do different motherboards provide different CPU voltages to the same CPU chip. I thought that in the i5 generation, the CPU specified the voltage it wants over the VID pins. There could be some error on individual motherboards - but why 20%. Is this test repeatable? Is it possible that the test conditions were just different in each case and the results are random?

"Processor core power supply. The voltage supplied to these pins is determined by the VID pins." [Core i5 spec.]

Question:Was wireless n tested on both 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands? Also, do you happen to know if the atheros chipset used supports the 450mbps theoretical rate of the newest 80211n implementations? For the latter question I'm guessing no since I believe you need 3 antenae for that "standard".

Good review, and I'm always evaluating whether or not I'lll change my home HTPC ecosystem, in which the wireless performance on the 5ghz band plays a part...

I do wish it had more than 4 sata internal ports however. My main HTPC uses 5, including the blu-ray drive. I originally used an external enclosure for my storage but reverted back to an all-in-one-box solution since aesthetically it was cleaner.

Last edited by sgtpokey on Thu May 19, 2011 10:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

Why do different motherboards provide different CPU voltages to the same CPU chip. I thought that in the i5 generation, the CPU specified the voltage it wants over the VID pins. There could be some error on individual motherboards - but why 20%. Is this test repeatable? Is it possible that the test conditions were just different in each case and the results are random?

Not sure, but both the H55 and H67 Zotac boards have given our test CPUs a bit more juice than other models.

sgtpokey wrote:

Was wireless n tested on both 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands? Also, do you happen to know if the atheros chipset used supports the 450mbps theoretical rate of the newest 80211n implementations? For the latter question I'm guessing no since I believe you need 3 antenae for that "standard".

2.4ghz I think. I have no idea if it supports 450mbps. Try googling the model number. There's a screenshot of the device manager listing on the test methodology page.

sgtpokey wrote:

I do wish it had more than 4 sata internal ports however. My main HTPC uses 5, including the blu-ray drive.

Do you use eSATA? If you don't, you can convert the eSATA port at the back with an adapter cable and route it back inside. That would give you 5.

Did you achieve these 13 seconds boot to windows with a WD 5400rpm HD that was listed on specs???How would that be using a now-low-end SSD (Intel X25-M 80gb)?

I am considering building a CarPC (if you`re not familiar with the term, it is like a HTPC installed in-dash of a car) so boot times matters ALOT. Usually I will use hibernation/sleep/hybrid sleep to boot.Another thing that matters is power consumption but seems to me that this boards alongside a low-TDP CPU like the previous poster said (2100-T) would be nice.

Did you achieve these 13 seconds boot to windows with a WD 5400rpm HD that was listed on specs???How would that be using a now-low-end SSD (Intel X25-M 80gb)?

Boot time is measured from startup to when the loading windows screen comes on, not total boot time to the desktop. We do it this way to remove the drive from the equation. Here are some SSD boot times: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1187-page4.html. These are measured the opposite way, so add 13 seconds for the total time.

Quote:

Another thing that matters is power consumption but seems to me that this boards alongside a low-TDP CPU like the previous poster said (2100-T) would be nice.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum